23
Max rolled over towards the window and let the sun warm his face. It had been three days since his mother's death and he hadn't left his room. Food was brought to him and left on his nightstand. Except for the occasional sip of water, the tray had gone untouched.
His grandparents and aunts checked on him regularly, but it was a one-sided conversation that always ended in awkward silence. Knoxby, Hodgenock, and Mr. Scrine attempted to coax him out of his room on the second day with tales of Leofwin's progress and the Trith tied up in the stables.
Tommy, Snoop, and Davi had just left and threatened him with a barrage of spitballs if he didn't come out and join them for a game of soccer on the back lawn. He could hear the game starting below his window and got up to investigate. The
